Dispensing apparatus



July 8, 1958 s, KNAPP ET AL 2,842,293

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April 18, 1955 Illllll! Unite ta DISPENSING APPARATUS Robert S. Knapp and Richard B. Nebinger, St. Louis, Mo., assignors to Knapp-Monarch Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Application April 18, 1955, Serial No. 502,042

4 Claims. (Cl. 222399) The present invention relates generally to a dispensing device, and more particularly to an apparatus for pressurizing a liquid container and regulating eduction flow therefrom.

The sale of beer and similar ebullient liquids in relatively large containers, particularly gallon size, for home use necessitates the provision of a simple, eflicient and reliable dispensing means for providing a constant pressure on the beer within the container and for regulating eduction flow therefrom. It is desirable to provide dispensing means of this type wherein carbon dioxide pressurization by means of a sparklet bulb may be employed. Several ditlicult problems arise, however, in attempting to adapt an efficiently operating apparatus to the use of sparklet bulb pressurization. In particular, it is necessary to maintain a constant pressure on the beer throughout the dispensing life of the container, so that the last volume of beer Withdrawn will be received at substantially the same flow rate and pressure as the first volume. It is of further importance to prevent foaming of the beer as a result of agitating and mixing by the pressurizing gas. In addition, the use of carbon dioxide as the pressurizing gas also presents the problem of parts freezing within the bulb mechanism.

it is a primary object of this invention, therefore, to provide adispensing device of the type described having novel pressure regulator means for providing a constant dispensing pressure.

It is another object to provide a dispensing device of the type described, wherein the pressurizing gas is released above the top. surface of the liquid Within the container in a manner which eliminates the possibility of agitation and consequent foaming of the liquid.

It is a further object to provide a dispensing device of the carbon dioxide type having novel means for preventing freezing within the carbon dioxide release mechanism.

It is still another object to provide a dispensing device of the type described having a self-closing, manuallyactuated push button type of valve for regulating dispensing flow through a spigot.

It is still a further object to provide a dispensing device of the type described having safety relief valve means to prevent excessive internal container pressure in the event of accidental malfunction of the pressure regulating or dispensing valve means.

With these and other objects in'view, our invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of our dispensing apparatus whereby the objects contemplated are obtained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in our claimsand illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly broken away and in section, showing a container having a dispensing device constructed in accordance with the present invention operatively mounted therewith;

Figure 2'is a top plan view of the assembly shown in lice Figure 1, with parts broken away and in section to show details of internal construction; I

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line 3--3 on Figure 2;

Figure 3A is a fragmentary view of a portion of Fig- -ure 3, showing a latch element shifted by cam actuation to release position;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line 44 on Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing detailed parts of the attaching means for securing the dispenser assembly to the container.

Referring now to the drawing, I have shown a container 10 of the type usedfor storing liquids and capable of being internally pressurized. The container 10' is formed with a generally cylindrical side wall 12, and a bottom wall 14 serving to support the container in; a generally upright position when disposed ona supporting surface. The bottom wall 14 is upwardly dished in conventional manner to increase the strength of the container, and to improve upright support stability.

The container 10 provides a top wall 16. having a contrally disposed neck 18 terminating in an outwardly drawing. The neck opening permits the attachment of a closure cap, of the crown type for example, so that the container'may be filled with draft beer or -a carbonated beverage at a brewery or bottler, and thereafter capped for storage and subsequent distribution. The cap-may then be removed by the consumer at some convenient time of use, and a dispenser assembly-.22. providing pressurizing means and valve-regulated spigot-means attached by insertion into the exposed neck opening. In this way, a single dispenser assembly 22 may 'beinterchanged and repeatedly used with numerous containers 10,, and the containers it may be distributed and sold independently of the dispenser assembly, thereby eliminating the high cost and fragile handling requirements which arise in container arrangements having an integrally attached .dispenser means. I

The dispenser assembly 22 comprises abody or head 24 which provides attachment means at its lower end. for releasably securing the assembly in fixed relation within the neck of the container. A plurality of latch elements 26 are pivotally secured by means of pins 28-to the body 24, and cooperate with the outwardly rolled bead or curl 20 to secure the dispenser assembly to the container neck 18. The lower end of the body 24 provides a reduced diameter portion 30 adapted to, be slidingly received within the open neck of the container. It is. merely necessary to push the portion 30 of the dispenser assembly 22 downwardly into the open neck of the container until the latch elements 26 snap over the neck curl 20. For this purpose, the latch elements 26 are formed with a cam face 26a and a right angle ledge, 26b, and are biased by spring elements 32 towardthe container neck 18. As the dispenser is inserted, the cam'faces 26a of the latches will engage the curl'20 and be caused to pivot in a retracting direction against the bias of springs 32.

When fully inserted, the latch ledges'26b willsnap under and permit withdrawal when the container 10 is empty. For this purpose, the ring 36 provides a plurality of embossments 38 each providing cam surfaces adapted to cooperate with engaged portions of a corresponding one of the latch elements 26. In Figure of the drawing, we have shown one of the latch elements 26 located within the ring 36 in its cooperatively engaged position relative to the cam surfaces of an embossment 38, as occurs in the assembled construction during unlatching rotation of the ring 36. The latch elements 26 are formed with an inclined face 260 and an undercut or notch 26a' for facilitating carnming action with the surfaces 38. It will be apparent that upon manual rotation of the ring 36 relative to the body 24, pivotal retraction of the latch elements 26 out of engagement with the container curl 20 will be effected, as seen in Figure 3A.

Springs 40 are provided for returning the ring 36 back to its original position after manual rotation to effect unlatching. The ring 36 provides a plurality of upraised abutment plates 42 circumferentially spaced from each other. The plates 42 are also in circumferentially spaced relation with respect to a corresponding plurality of shoulders 44, integrally formed by the body 24, when the ring 36, and the body 24 are in assembled relation. A

further plurality of split shoulders 46 are integrally formed by the body 24 at circumferentially spaced points underlying the plates 42 when the ring 36 and body 24 are assembled. Prior to assembly of the ring 36 with the body 24, each of the springs 40 is compressed into position in the body 24 with its one end bearing against a shoulder 44 and its other end bearing against a shoulder 46. When the ring 36 is placed in position, the plates 42 can be moved through the split shoulders 46 during rotation of the ring, thereby engaging the springs 40 and compressing them. 'When the ring 36 is released, after rotation, the springs 40 will expand and effect return rotation of the ring 36 to its normal position for permitting latching operation.

A plurality of screws 48 are provided for interconnecting the ring 36 and body 24. The heads of the screws 48 are slidably held within arcuate holder grooves 50 which permit the ring 36 to be rotated relative to the body 24, while retaining the parts in a particular position of assembled relation so as to maintain compression of the springs 40 against the plates 42 at all times.

As best seen in Figure 5, the outer surface of the ring 36 is formed with vertical ridges or embossments 36:: about its circumference to facilitate manual gripping for rotation. Knurling or similar surface irregularities may also be employed for this purpose.

The body 24 is formed with a generally vertical inlet passage 52 for admitting the pressurizing gas into the container 10. A plurality of laterally directed orifices 54 are provided for directing the downward flow in the passageway 52 outwardly into the container in a generally horizontal direction substantially parallel to and above the surface of the liquid within the container. In this way, undesirable agitation of the liquid which might occur if the carbon dioxide gas were admitted into or through the liquid will be prevented.

The gas pressurizing means comprises a carbon dioxide sparklet bulb 56 which is mounted by means. of a bulb holder 58 within a pressure regulator body portion 60. The forward end of the bulb holder 58 is screw-threadedly received within an open end of the regulator body 60 as indicated at 62. The holder 58 fixedly carries a turning knob 64 at its rear end. In this way, the bulb 56 may be moved forwardly into the regulator body' 60 by manually rotating the bulb holder 58. The regulator body 60 is provided with an insert plug 66 which cooperatingly receives the neck of the bulb 56. An O-ring 68 is provided for effecting a gas-tight seal of the bulb neck within the plug 66. After sealing engagement of the bulb neck by the O-ring 68, continued forward movement of the bulb by manual screwing of the holder 58 will serve to effect a piercing of the forward end of the bulb by a piercing pin 70 which may be either soldered to the insert plug 66 in a gas-tight manner, or supported by means of a pack assembly of thrust washers, spacer washers, and snap rings, as shown, in gas-tight relation within the insert plug 66. The piercing pin 70 provides a suitable gas flow passage therethrough, which communicates with the bulb interior at its outer end and terminates within a chamber 72 formed by the plug 66 at its inner end. In this way, the bulb 56 will first be sealed off and then pierced to effect delivery of the compressed gas therein to the chamber 72.

A cross passage 74 delivers the compressed gas from the chamber 72 to the inlet passage 52. In this way, the pressurizing gas is delivered to the container. An O-ring seal '76 is carried by the plug 66, and is positioned between the cross passage 74 and the carbon dioxide bulb 56 to provide a gas-tight seal between the pressure regulator body 60 and the plug 66. A clearance 78 is provided between the body 60 and plug 66 forwardly of and in communication with the passage 74 to permit flow of the pressurizing gas forwardly to an end chamber 80 defined by the body 60 and the end of plug 66. An annular washer 82 surrounds the chamber 80 and overlies a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves 84 which communicate the clearance 78 with the chamber 80. A flexible diaphragm 86 is held in position against the washer 82 by a suitable sealing shoulder formed at the forward terminal end of the plug 66.

The forward end of the plug 66 is internally recessed at 88 to provide cylinder walls for a piston element 90 which is slidably reciprocable therein. The piston 90 terminates rearwardly in a closure disc 92 which cooperates with the outlet of the gas flow passage through piercing pin 70 to effect sealing thereof when the piston is moved a sufiicient distance by the diaphragm 86 as a result of pressure within chamber 80. An O-ring seal 94 prevents any flow of pressurizing gas forwardly into the recess 88.

In this way, pressurizing gas will pass forwardly into the chamber 80, and will provide a pressure therein substantially equal to the internal pressure within the container 10. Upon piercing of the bulb 56, gas will flow into the container 10 until a predetermined loading pressure is reached therein, whereupon the same loading pressure within chamber 80 will effect a closure of gas flow from the bulb 56. If the pressure within the container 10 drops during the dispensing of liquid, the pressure within the chamber 80 will also drop, permitting the gas pressure within chamber 72 to exert an over-balancing force against piston 90 and effect forward movement thereof and unseating of the closure disc 92 from the piercing pin outlet passage. Pressurizing gas will then be permitted to again pass from the bulb 56 through the cross passage 74 and inlet 52 to the container 10. This replenishing supply of pressurizing gas will also be transmitted to the chamber 80, raising the pressure therein and causing a deflection of the diaphragm 86 against the piston 90, thereby effecting movement of the piston until the closure disc 92 again effects a sealing of the piercing pin outlet passage. This arrangement of parts provides a simple and efiicient pressure regulating means for automatically maintaining the pressure within the container 10 substantially constant during discharge of liquid. So long as the supply of pressurizing gas is available from the bulb 56, a substantially constant predetermined minimum pressure will be maintained within the container 10.

A flexible syphon tube 100, preferably of suitable plastic material, reaches at its lower end to the container bottom 14, and is attached at its upper end to a shank 102 in a gas tight manner to prevent gas above the surface of liquid within the container from seeping therebetween and cause foaming of the liquid being dispensed. The tube has a weighted lower end 104 which remains at all times closely adjacent the container bottom wall 14 within the dished peripheral. pocket formed thereby, so as to permit substantially complete emptying of liquid from the container.

The shank 102 is screw-threadedly received within a downwardly extending tubular fitting 106 formed by the body 24, and is sealed therewith by means of a reduced diameter rib 107. The shank 102 defines a vertical flow passage S centrally therethrough. The fitting 106 defines a relatively large diameter bore 110 which communicates upwardly with a smaller diameter outlet passageway 112 formed within the body 24.

A self-closing push button type of control valve is provided for regulating discharge flow of liquid from the container 16. The control valve comprises a stem 114 received within the outlet passageway 112. The stem 114 carries a valve head 116 at its :lower end. The head 116 is disposed within bore 110, and provides a resilient sealing surface 118 which cooperateswith a rounded shoulder 12% defining a valve seat entering into the outlet passageway 112. The stem 114 is of substantially smaller diameter than the passageway 112 to define an annular path for outlet flow upwardly therebetween. The stem 114 is enlarged at 122 to provide guide means for facilitating vertical sliding movement of the valve, and for maintaining a liquid-tight seal with the wall of the outlet passageway 112. The upper end of the stem 114 terminates in a manual push button 124 which is recessed within a surrounding shield portion 126 of the body 24 for the purpose of preventing accidental depression and opening of the valve. A spring 128 serves to bias the valve assembly upwardly toward a normally closed position of engagement between head 116 and seat 120.

An upwardly directed, inclined branch passageway 130 communicates with the outlet passageway 112, and receives at its outlet end a fixedly secured dispensing tube or spigot 132 of suitable plastic material. The spigot 132 is curved so as to conduct the flow of liquid in a glass to be placed downward direction and permit a against the side thereof to reduce foaming.

In this way, when the control valve button 124 is manually depressed, liquid under the force of pressurizing gas within the container 10 will be permitted to flow upwardly through the syphon tube 100, outlet passageways 103, 110, 112, and 130, and spigot 132 to effect dispensing.

It will be noted that the upper end of flow passage 168 in shank 162 is substantially reduced in diameter to provide a restriction 138 for effecting a constant flow rate. The restriction 138 provides approach and discharge surfaces 140, 142 which are well rounded to insure smooth flow. The restriction 138 serves to regulate the filling of a glass within a predetermined time interval while dispensing. A safety relief valve (see Figure 4) is provided in order to relieve any build up of excessive pressure which may accidentally occur within the container 10 due to malfunction of the pressure regulator'or unusual temperature conditions. A passage 144 leads from the interior of container 10 to a valve body portion 146. A cup shaped valve element 148 is normally seated against a resilient valveseat 150 by means of a biasing spring 152 which is held in position by a retaining screw 154. The spring 152 exerts the correct load to maintain valve closure until the pressure within the container 10 reaches a predetermined high value. An orifice 156 permits pressure discharge when the cup valve 148 is unseated.

The optimum position of a gas bulb while discharging carbon dioxide is generally one of near-vertical alignment with the neck of the bulb uppermost. Such orientation prevents freezing due to the formation of dry ice within cooperating flow passages and control parts. We

have found that satisfactory performance may also be obtained, however, at various inclinations of the bulb down to a horizontal position, such as that shown in the i 6 present construction. It is important, therefore, that the bulb be maintained in the horizontal orientation shown, although it will be understood that the pressure regulator body 60 may be downwardly inclined if desired to insure a positioning of the neck and of the bulb at least horizontal or above. i

We have provided by the present invention a dispensing attachment which may be quickly secured in a detachable manner and in gas-tight and liquid-tight relation to a container filled with beer or some similar ebullient liquid such as carbonated "beverages and the like. Gas pressurization is provided for maintaining the correct carbonation within the liquid, which is sometimes reduced upon opening of a container due to heat or agitation. Further, the gas pressurization is automatically regulated to pro vide a constant loading pressure for effecting uniform dispensing of the liquid from the container. In addition,

a manually controllable discharge valve is provided in gas and liquid-tight sealing relation with the container to permit easily controlled eduction of liquid without agitation or foaming.

Changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of our dispensing apparatus without departing from the real spirit and purpose of our invention, and it is our intention to cover by the appended claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical improvements which may be reasonably included within their scope.

What We claim as new and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1 l. in combination with a liquid filled container having a neck opening terminating in an enlarged lip, a detachably secured dispensing device, said dispensing device having a body portion received within the neck of said container, and means for detachably securing said body portion in gas-tight sealing relation, said means comprising a sealing-means carried by said body portion and cooperating with the inner wall surface of said container neck to effect a gas-tight seal therewith, and latch means cooperating with the enlarged lip of said container neck to effect external gripping engagement therewith, said latch means being spring biased to permit automatic attachment of said dispensing device and locking thereof upon insertion of said portion of the dispensing device within said container neck, and manually operable release means for permitting unlatching and removal of said portion of the dispensing device from said container neck, said latch means comprising a plurality of rigid elements pivotally carried by said body portion and spring biased toward said container lip, said release means comprising a ring member having a plurality of cam surfaces adapted to cooperate with said rigid elements for pivoting them outwardly away from said container lip. V

2. In combination with a liquid filled container having a neck opening terminating in an enlarged lip, a detachably secured dispensing device, said dispensing device having a body portion received within the neck of said container, and means for detachably securing said body portion in gas-tight sealing relation, said means comprising sealing means carried by said body portion and cooperatingwith the inner wall surface of said container neck to efiect a gas-tight seal therewith, and latch means cooperating with the enlarged lip of said container neck to effect external gripping engagement therewith, said latch means being spring biased to permit automatic attachment of said dispensing device and locking thereof upon insertion of said portion of the dispensing device within said container neck, and manually operable release means for permitting unlatching and removal of said portion of the dispensing device from said container neck, said latch means comprising a rigid element pivotally carried by said body portion and spring biased toward said container lip, said release means comprising a ring member having a cam surface adapted to cooperate with said rigid element for pivoting it outwardly away from said container lip.

3. In combination with a liquid filled container having a neck opening terminating in an enlarged lip, a detachably secured dispensing device, said dispensing device having a body portion received within the neck of said container, and means for detachably securing said body portion in gas-tight sealing relation, said means comprising sealing means carried by said body portion and cooperating with the inner wall surface of said container neck to effect a gas-tight seal therewith, and latch means cooperating with the enlarged lip of said container neck to eifect external gripping engagement therewith, said latch means being spring biased to permit automatic attachment of said dispensing device and locking thereof upon insertion of said portion of the dispensing device within said container neck, and manually operable release means for permitting unlatching and removal of said portion of the dispensing device from said container neck, said latch means comprising a rigid element pivotally carried by said body portion and spring biased toward said container lip, said release means comprising a ring member rotatably carried by said body portion and having actuator means adapted when said ring is rotated to engage and pivot said rigid element outwardly away from said container lip.

4. In combination with a liquid filled container having a neck opening terminating in an enlarged lip, a detachably secured dispensing device, said dispensing device having a body portion received within the neck of said container, and means for detachably securing said body portion in gas-tight sealing relation, said means comprising sealing means carried by said body portion and cooperating with the inner wall surface of said container neck to effect a gas-tight seal therewith, and latch means cooperating with the enlarged lip of said container neck to effect external gripping engagement therewith, said latch means being spring biased to permit automatic attachment of said dispensing device and locking thereof upon insertion of said portion of the dispensing device within said container neck, and manually operable release means for permitting unlatching and removal of said portion of the dispensing device from said container neck, said latch means comprising a plurality of rigid elements pivotally carried by said body portion and spring biased toward said container lip, said release means comprising a ring member rotatably carried by said body portion and having actuator means adapted when said ring is rotated to engage and pivot said rigid elements outwardly away from said container lip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 575,932 Nageldinger Ian. 26, 1897 591,686 Peter Oct. 12, 1897 653,516 Kleinfeldt July 10, 1900 706,423 Kleinfeldt Aug. 5, 1902 943,421 Kleinfeldt Dec. 14, 1909 1,412,321 Tate Apr. 11, 1922 1,979,390 Jacobs Nov. 6, 1934 2,552,857 Knapp May 15, 1951 2,705,578 Burns Apr. 5, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 113,636 Great Britain Feb. 20, 1918 

